Ambitions Entwined

Chapter 10 | Having a Social Agenda

The following day, I awoke to muffled voices drifting upstairs. Groggy and disoriented, I took a moment to place the voice mingling with James's familiar deep tone. Clara, our publicist.

I groaned, burying my face in my pillow. I'd forgotten Clara was scheduled to come over this Friday as we were both off. After the investors' dinner and the emotional turmoil that followed, the last thing I wanted was to plaster on a fake smile and talk about wedding plans. But I knew I couldn't avoid my responsibilities forever.

With a sigh of resignation, I dragged myself out of bed and into the shower. As I stood under the steaming spray, I tried to mentally prepare myself for the day ahead. I was still hurt and angry over James's lack of support at the dinner, but I knew we needed to present a united front. Our plan depended on it.

Dressing in my cosy loungewear outfit, I made my way downstairs. James and Clara were seated at the kitchen island, a spread of pastries and coffees between them. They looked up as I entered, Clara's megawatt smile firmly in place.

"Noreen, darling!" she exclaimed, rising to air kiss my cheeks. "You look stunning, as always. Doesn't she, James?"

James's gaze met mine, something unreadable glinting behind his blue eyes. "Radiant," he agreed, his voice carefully neutral. "Morning, Noreen."

I managed a tight smile, ignoring how my brain shut down under his intense stare. "Morning. What's on the agenda today?"

Clara consulted her ever-present tablet. "We need to solidify your public appearances for this month. The London Film Festival is coming up, and it's the perfect opportunity to showcase your relationship, especially since James's parents already attend every year."

I blinked in surprise. "They do?"

James nodded, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "It's a bit of a tradition. My mother loves cinema."

Clara beamed, "Which is why I think it would be wonderful for you to attend as one big happy family this year. It will be the perfect display of union—the new member of the Maeers family!"

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. Attending the festival with not only James but his parents as well? It was a daunting prospect. But I couldn't deny its strategic brilliance.

"In fact," Clara continued, her eyes sparkling with excitement, "I think it would be a great idea for James to officially introduce you to his parents before the festival. Maybe a nice, intimate family dinner?"

James glanced at me, gauging my reaction. "I think that's a great idea. Noreen, what do you say?"

I took a deep breath, my fingers tightening around my coffee mug. Meeting James's parents, pretending to be the perfect fiancée... It was just another role to play, another act in this grand charade. But that didn't make it any less terrifying.

But I knew I didn't have a choice. For the sake of our plan, I had to grin and bear it.

"Dinner sounds lovely," I said, my voice overly bright.

Clara clapped her hands together, practically bouncing with excitement. "Wonderful! James, please call your parents for dinner, I will take care of the rest. Oh, and before I forget, I've compiled a list of reputable wedding planners for you to consider. We must make concrete plans to keep it within the Board year deadline."

She slid a sheet of paper across the counter, a dozen names and numbers neatly printed in black ink. I stared at it, my stomach churning. A wedding planner. Another step towards making this sham of an engagement feel all too real.

Oblivious to the tension between us, Clara continued chatting about colour schemes and floral arrangements.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she gathered her things and made to leave. "I'll be in touch," she chirped, air-kissing us again. "You two lovebirds, enjoy your Friday and have a good weekend!"

And then she was gone, leaving James and me alone in the sudden, deafening silence of the kitchen.

For a long moment, neither of us spoke. I sipped my coffee, picking at the half-eaten croissant on my plate.

I knew we couldn't go on like this, even if I wanted to hold onto my anger a little longer, not with all the appearances we had to make, with all the fake displays of affection. Taking a deep breath, I set my mug down and turned to face James fully.

"We need to talk," I said quietly, my voice steady despite the nerves quivering in my stomach. "About what happened at the dinner..."

James met my gaze, something like relief flickering in his eyes. "You're right," he agreed, his shoulders slumping as if a great weight had been lifted from them. "Why don't we sit in the living room? This might take a while."

I nodded, rising to follow him into the spacious, sunlit room. We settled on opposite ends of the plush sofa, an ocean of unspoken words and tangled emotions stretching between us.

James stared at his clasped hands for a long moment, his brow furrowed as if searching for the right words. Then, with a heavy sigh, he began to speak.

"Noreen, I owe you an apology. Several, actually. What happened at the dinner... I should have stood up for you. I should have stopped their disrespectful comments and clarified that you should not be treated in such a way. But I didn't. I let my fear of rocking the boat, of jeopardizing the deal, override my duty to you as my partner. And for that, I am truly, deeply sorry."

I swallowed hard, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes. James's heartfelt and sincere words began to quell the wall of anger I had built around my heart.

"Thank you," I whispered, my voice rough with emotion.

He reached out, tentatively taking my hand in his. This time, I didn't pull away.

"But that's not all," he continued, his thumb tracing soothing circles on my skin. "I've been doing some thinking and, I-...I also owe you an apology for everything that happened back at university. The way I treated you, the cruel things I said and did... it was inexcusable. I was a stupid, immature kid who didn't know better. But that's no excuse. I hurt you, Noreen. Deeply. And I am so, so sorry...even more so for only voicing it now."

Tears started rolling down my cheeks. A sob escaped my lips. I hastily covered my mouth, my heart clenching at his words, what they meant to me and the memories they evoked.

"O-ok..," I said through my teary voice, squeezing his hand. "And I'm sorry too. For slapping you. I was hurt and angry..."

James looked at me wide-eyed, stunned by my reaction. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry..." His hands were on my face before I knew it, thumbs gently brushing away my tears as I tried to reign them in.

A small smile played at the corners of his mouth. "I think I deserved that slap, to be honest. Consider it payback for all those years of torment."

A wry laugh bubbled up from my throat through my sobs and tears. The tension between us began to dissipate.

Changing the topic to alleviate the mood, we talked for hours, discussing the details of our upcoming wedding planner and film festival appearance. By the time the sun started to set, casting the room in a warm, golden glow, I felt lighter than I had in days.

The year-long harm was still to be dealt with, but it didn't feel as suffocating and dark.

James rose, stretching his long limbs. "I got to call my mum about dinner."

I nodded as he walked to the solarium to make the necessary arrangements.

Minutes later, James was back in the living room, leaning casually against the wall. "Dinner's tomorrow at 7, I'll send you the address. You can go a bit earlier. My mother will want to give you the grand tour."

I groaned good-naturedly. "I can hardly wait."

James chuckled, his eyes sparkling with mirth.